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Wilder's string of 28 knockouts fourth all-time in heavyweight class

Deontay Wilder knocks down Audley Harrison in the first round during their heavyweight bout at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena in England on April 27. Wilder has won all 28 of his pro fights by knockout, a streak which is fourth all-time in the heavyweight division. Wilder will fight Sergei Liakhovich on Friday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

The Associated Press

By Aaron SuttlesSports Writer

Published: Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11:28 p.m.

NORTHPORT | He’s left a trail of battered faces, aching bodies and scrambled brains in his wake.

That big right hand leaves behind its imprint: eyes blackened, red and watering, runny noses, sore ribs, head pounding. When Deontay Wilder hits opponents, they know it, and so far each has been unable to respond, left out cold on the canvas, counted out by the referee or retired. Wilder isn’t just winning, he’s doing so at an historic rate.

Wilder’s string of 28 consecutive knockouts ranks fourth all-time by heavyweights and is tied for ninth across all weight divisions. Fifty-seven percent of those knockouts came in the first round, and on average an opponent makes it just 1.7 rounds against the Bronze Bomber. A total of 16 knockouts came in the first round, six in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth.

“To knock out 28 in a row is pretty much unheard of,” heavyweight Jameel McCline said.

McCline knows what he’s talking about. He’s been in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko, Shannon Briggs and John Ruiz, and has fought for the world title four times.

McCline was part of Wilder’s training camp as a sparring partner in preparation for Friday’s fight against Sergei Liakhovich, a former WBO heavyweight champion.

“After working with him, now I see why,” McCline said. “I’ve been in there with everybody in the world in the last 10 years, all the big names except (Evander) Holyfield and (Mike) Tyson. That includes Lennox Lewis, Shannon Briggs, some of the biggest punchers in the world, Wladimir Klitschko. (Wilder) punches just as hard as Lennox Lewis with the accuracy of Shannon Briggs. And I didn’t understand that until I got into the ring with him. Now I understand why he can knock out 28 guys. He’s got a very, very powerful punch.”

The knockout streak isn’t a priority for Wilder, although he admits it’s “pretty cool.”

“I don’t let it get too far in my head because I don’t want to get caught up in, ‘I have to go in and knock an opponent out,’” Wilder said. “That’s when you make mistakes. I’m not getting caught up in the hype of that. If it happens, it happens. As long as I get the victory I’m satisfied.

“I do think about wanting to knock my opponent out, but do I pressure myself to make it happen? No. I just let my hands go and see what happens after that.”

It began against Ethan Cox in November 2008 and continued through Wilder’s latest victory against Audley Harrison in England in April. Of course, Wilder’s skills have come a long way since his first professional fight in Nashville, Tenn. That’s part of the plan in developing him into a contender for the heavyweight championship of the world.

Everyone knows about the right hand, but his jab, left hook and uppercut are becoming staples.

“If you look at all these great knockout punchers, the ones that became champions are the ones that accentuated that with other things in their game,” Wilder co-manager Jay Deas said. “So what we want to do is make sure the other pieces of the puzzle are there because on the list of great knockout punchers, the ones that never became champions are the ones that were kind of the one-trick pony. They hurt you, they were able to knock you out, but if you were able to get through that you would beat them. That’s what we don’t want to be. We want Deontay to be a complete fighter, not a guy that does just one thing well.”

Wilder’s knockout string has him up to No. 6 in the world as ranked by the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization, No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 30 by the World Boxing Council.

Knowing when to go for the knockout has become an art for Wilder. Go too early and you risk zapping your energy or leaving yourself vulnerable to a big counterpunch. Wait too late and you may miss your chance.

“It’s just like how animals smell fear. It’s the same way in the fight game,” Wilder said. “You can look into your opponent’s eyes and he’ll give you a signal that this guy is scared. But sometimes you have to be careful of the ones who are scared because ... it’s like when a rabbit is scared. It can be the nicest and fluffiest white bunny all it wants, but if it gets put in the corner it will put up a fight. For me, it’s like when I hit an opponent or when I feel their bones on my hand, I know it’s over. I smell it’s over and take my opportunity to get them out of there.”

No matter how much longer the streak lasts, all agree that what’s already been accomplished is impressive.

“It’s definitely different. It’s definitely special,” McCline said. “You have to be very careful with a guy like Deontay. You have to be very, very careful or you can get hurt in there. What’s it like getting hit? It feels like ... it doesn’t feel like you’re being hit by another human being. That’s what it feels like.”

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron.suttles@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.

<p>NORTHPORT | He's left a trail of battered faces, aching bodies and scrambled brains in his wake.</p><p>That big right hand leaves behind its imprint: eyes blackened, red and watering, runny noses, sore ribs, head pounding. When Deontay Wilder hits opponents, they know it, and so far each has been unable to respond, left out cold on the canvas, counted out by the referee or retired. Wilder isn't just winning, he's doing so at an historic rate.</p><p>Wilder's string of 28 consecutive knockouts ranks fourth all-time by heavyweights and is tied for ninth across all weight divisions. Fifty-seven percent of those knockouts came in the first round, and on average an opponent makes it just 1.7 rounds against the Bronze Bomber. A total of 16 knockouts came in the first round, six in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth.</p><p>“To knock out 28 in a row is pretty much unheard of,” heavyweight Jameel McCline said.</p><p>McCline knows what he's talking about. He's been in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko, Shannon Briggs and John Ruiz, and has fought for the world title four times.</p><p>McCline was part of Wilder's training camp as a sparring partner in preparation for Friday's fight against Sergei Liakhovich, a former WBO heavyweight champion.</p><p>“After working with him, now I see why,” McCline said. “I've been in there with everybody in the world in the last 10 years, all the big names except (Evander) Holyfield and (Mike) Tyson. That includes Lennox Lewis, Shannon Briggs, some of the biggest punchers in the world, Wladimir Klitschko. (Wilder) punches just as hard as Lennox Lewis with the accuracy of Shannon Briggs. And I didn't understand that until I got into the ring with him. Now I understand why he can knock out 28 guys. He's got a very, very powerful punch.”</p><p>The knockout streak isn't a priority for Wilder, although he admits it's “pretty cool.”</p><p>“I don't let it get too far in my head because I don't want to get caught up in, 'I have to go in and knock an opponent out,'” Wilder said. “That's when you make mistakes. I'm not getting caught up in the hype of that. If it happens, it happens. As long as I get the victory I'm satisfied.</p><p>“I do think about wanting to knock my opponent out, but do I pressure myself to make it happen? No. I just let my hands go and see what happens after that.” </p><p>It began against Ethan Cox in November 2008 and continued through Wilder's latest victory against Audley Harrison in England in April. Of course, Wilder's skills have come a long way since his first professional fight in Nashville, Tenn. That's part of the plan in developing him into a contender for the heavyweight championship of the world.</p><p>Everyone knows about the right hand, but his jab, left hook and uppercut are becoming staples.</p><p>“If you look at all these great knockout punchers, the ones that became champions are the ones that accentuated that with other things in their game,” Wilder co-manager Jay Deas said. “So what we want to do is make sure the other pieces of the puzzle are there because on the list of great knockout punchers, the ones that never became champions are the ones that were kind of the one-trick pony. They hurt you, they were able to knock you out, but if you were able to get through that you would beat them. That's what we don't want to be. We want Deontay to be a complete fighter, not a guy that does just one thing well.”</p><p>Wilder's knockout string has him up to No. 6 in the world as ranked by the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization, No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 30 by the World Boxing Council.</p><p>Knowing when to go for the knockout has become an art for Wilder. Go too early and you risk zapping your energy or leaving yourself vulnerable to a big counterpunch. Wait too late and you may miss your chance.</p><p>“It's just like how animals smell fear. It's the same way in the fight game,” Wilder said. “You can look into your opponent's eyes and he'll give you a signal that this guy is scared. But sometimes you have to be careful of the ones who are scared because ... it's like when a rabbit is scared. It can be the nicest and fluffiest white bunny all it wants, but if it gets put in the corner it will put up a fight. For me, it's like when I hit an opponent or when I feel their bones on my hand, I know it's over. I smell it's over and take my opportunity to get them out of there.”</p><p>No matter how much longer the streak lasts, all agree that what's already been accomplished is impressive.</p><p>“It's definitely different. It's definitely special,” McCline said. “You have to be very careful with a guy like Deontay. You have to be very, very careful or you can get hurt in there. What's it like getting hit? It feels like ... it doesn't feel like you're being hit by another human being. That's what it feels like.”</p><p>Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron.suttles@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.</p>